Improved Visualization in LCA Through the Application of Cluster Heat Maps

There is a need to develop new and improved techniques to visualize LCA results to properly support decision making processes. Current methods to report LCA results fail to identify properly environmental trade-offs and the existing link between the different elements of a product system to a specific impact category. In this paper we introduce the use of cluster heat maps and the potential opportunities in LCA. Accordingly, we propose a methodology to build heat map constructs to report LCA results. The applicability of the method is then exemplified with a case study.